Domestic appliance with an open air duct

Abstract

A domestic appliance includes an open air duct and a flow cross-section adjuster in the air duct for adjusting a flow cross-section of the air duct. The flow cross-section adjuster includes rotatably mounted blades for noise dampening purpose. The air duct and the flow cross-section adjuster are in a cooling air inflow region relative to a heat exchanger or a compressor of the domestic appliance.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A domestic appliance comprising: an open air duct; and a flow cross-section adjuster in the air duct configured to adjust a flow cross-section of the air duct, the flow cross-section adjuster comprising rotatably mounted blades to dampen noise,
 wherein the air duct and the flow cross-section adjuster are in a cooling air inflow region relative to a noise- and heat-generating device of the domestic appliance, wherein in a closed state said rotatably mounted blades are positioned close the flow cross-section. 
 
     
     
       2. The domestic appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan to move cooling air to the noise- and heat-generating device through the air duct. 
     
     
       3. The domestic appliance of  claim 2 , wherein said fan is located upstream of the flow cross-section adjuster. 
     
     
       4. The domestic appliance of  claim 2 , wherein said fan is located downstream of the flow cross-section adjuster. 
     
     
       5. The domestic appliance of  claim 1 , wherein a flow cross-section of the flow cross-section adjuster is adjustable in response to a flow speed of the air. 
     
     
       6. The domestic appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the flow cross-section adjuster has an actuating device to adjust the flow cross-section to dampen noise. 
     
     
       7. The domestic appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the flow cross-section adjuster is adjustable to minimize the flow cross-section for a predetermined cooling power. 
     
     
       8. The domestic appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the flow cross-section adjuster comprises a sound-dampening material. 
     
     
       9. The domestic appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the blades comprise a sound-dampening material. 
     
     
       10. The domestic appliance of  claim 1 , configured as a tumble dryer, washer-dryer or washing machine. 
     
     
       11. The domestic appliance of  claim 10 , further comprising a heat pump and wherein the flow cross-section adjuster is an open air duct toward or away from the heat pump. 
     
     
       12. A domestic appliance comprising:
 a chamber to receive domestic items to be treated; 
 a noise- and heat-generating device included in a treatment process of the domestic appliance; 
 a heat exchanger or a compressor adjacent the chamber; 
 an air duct; and 
 a flow cross-section adjuster in or adjacent the air duct, the flow cross-section adjuster comprising at least one rotatably mounted blade to dampen noise, 
 wherein the air duct and the flow cross-section adjuster are positioned in a cooling air inflow region relative to the noise- and heat-generating device, and 
 wherein in a closed state said at least one rotatably mounted blade is positioned to close the flow cross-section to dampen noise and in an open state said at least one rotatably mounted blade is positioned to allow cooling air into the air duct to cool the noise- and heat-generating device. 
 
     
     
       13. The domestic appliance of  claim 12 , further comprising a fan to move the cooling air inflow to the noise- and heat-generating device through the air duct. 
     
     
       14. The domestic appliance of  claim 13 , wherein said fan is located arranged upstream of the flow cross-section adjuster. 
     
     
       15. The domestic appliance of  claim 13 , wherein said fan is located downstream of the flow cross-section adjuster. 
     
     
       16. The domestic appliance of  claim 12 , wherein a flow cross-section of the flow cross-section adjuster is adjustable in response to a flow speed of the air. 
     
     
       17. The domestic appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the flow cross-section adjuster has an actuating device to adjust the flow cross-section to dampen noise. 
     
     
       18. The domestic appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the flow cross-section adjuster is adjustable to minimize the flow cross-section for a predetermined cooling power. 
     
     
       19. The domestic appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the flow cross-section adjuster comprises a sound-dampening material. 
     
     
       20. The domestic appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one rotatably mounted blade comprises a sound-dampening material. 
     
     
       21. The domestic appliance of  claim 12 , further comprising a tumble dryer, washer-dryer or washing machine. 
     
     
       22. The domestic appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said noise- and heat-generating device comprises a heat exchanger and/or a compressor. 
     
     
       23. The domestic appliance of  claim 12 , wherein said noise- and heat-generating device comprises a heat exchanger and/or a compressor. 
     
     
       24. The domestic appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a tumble dryer, washer-dryer or washing machine. 
     
     
       25. The domestic appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said cooling air inflow enters the air duct from outside of the domestic appliance. 
     
     
       26. The domestic appliance of  claim 12 , wherein said cooling air inflow enters the air duct from outside of the domestic appliance.